How Does Mr. Dombey's Son Change Throughout The Novel

The slightest alteration in people’s lives have the ability to change their outlook on life forever. In a more specific circumstance the transformation of Mr. Dombey’s character in Charles Dicken’s novel Dombey and Son is slowly revealed to the readers due to the birth of his new-born son. Readers see that the presence of Mr. Dombey’s son begins to shift Mr. Dombey’s personality. Dicken’s creates a vivd portrait of Mr. Dombey’s character through the use of diction along with figurative language such as personification, simile, and imagery.

In the first chapter of this novel, Dickens creates an enough of an image of Mr. Dombey’s character so that readers grasp an essence of his personality without wholly revealing the depths of his identity.

Dickens explicitly uses the technique of specific diction to convey to the readers Mr. Dombey’s budding transition from a stern man to an slightly more appealing family man. Dicken’s choice of words to depict Mr. Dombey’s initial persona is “too stern and pompous in appearance to be prepossessing” (Dickens 8-9). Notably, the words stern and pompous disclose that Mr. Dombey has never been viewed as a cheerful and modest man. However, later in the chapter one realizes that the birth of Mr. Dombey’s son has the potential to alter his personality. For an alternative point of view, Dickens uses the phrase, “exulting in the long-looked for event” (19). The verb exulting in particular creates a different image of Mr. Dombey. Exulting creates an image of excitement—a characteristic that previously did not suit the character of Mr. Dombey. The word presents him and a joyful person rather than “stern.” In accordance with the word exulting, Dickens proceeds to explain that the words Dombey and Son have “such a softening influence” (28). The use of these specific words prove to the readers the effect Mr. Dombey’s new son has on his emotions. The transformation from the description of stern to soft is distinct in any circumstance. The idea of Mr. Dombey having a son and carrying on his legacy and business starts to warm his heart and in return “warms” the portrayal of his character. In this first chapter, readers receive a glimpse of how the presence of Mr. Dombey’s son will continue to effect his character. Mr. Dombey’s son bring happiness into his life which he is severely lacking. Dickens portrays how Mr. Dombey will begin alter his character from sternness and center his life around his newfound happiness through his use of diction.
The application of various forms of figurative language is prominent throughout this entire first chapter.

In the first lines of the novel, Dickens describes how the baby was laid down next to the fire, in which he uses the simile, “as if his constitution were analogous of to that of a muffin, and it was essential to toast him brown while he was very new” (4-5). Though this simile pertains to the son, the nature of the simile reflects on Mr. Dombey’s character. The fact that Mr. Dombey provides extra care to the baby—as if Mr. Dombey’s life depends on it—proves to the readers the amount of love and care he has for this baby. Onward to Mr. Dombey’s physical appearance, Dickens personifies time and care, in which he suggests that “On the brow of Dombey, Time and his brother Care had set some marks…remorseless twins as they are for striding through their human forests” (13-14). Dickens uses the personification of time and care to engagingly portray that Mr. Dombey’s is a man of old age. Yet, Dickens does this in such a way that readers indirectly understand that Dombey’s age. Dickens also uses imagery to illustrate the way Mr. Dombey views his life with his new son. Dickens describes their relationship as, “The earth was made for Dombey and Son to trade in, and the sun and moon were made to give them light” (40-41). The portrait that these claims depict reveal the essence of Mr. Dombey’s character. Dickens use of imagery in these few lines convey that Mr. Dombey is willing to dedicate his entire life to his son. A new meaning to his life beings and it entirely includes his son. Dickens uses figurative language from describing the forming relationship between Dombey and his son to physical appearance in order to describe Mr. Dombey’s

nature.
Overall, Dickens utilizes the entire first chapter of the novel to create a well-distinguished portrait of Mr. Dombey. From diction to imagery, various elements are used to describe the character that is Mr. Dombey. One notices that his life will be significantly altered by his son through the effect the son has on Mr. Dombey’s character as a baby. As of now in the novel, his son represents the happiness that Mr. Dombey needs and is slowly changing his character from “stern” to “soft.” Moreover, Mr. Dombey’s character proves to be more than what initially meets the eyes.